2014 World Cup: Bringing College Students Together
July 3, 2014
The 2014 World Cup hascaught a lot of attention and has been incredibly popular in the US this year. International Sports competitions play an interesting social role. In some ways, the World Cup brings forth the same spirit as the Olympic games, which have been an important aspect of international relations since their modern incarnation in 1896. Like domestic sports, when we rally behind a team we feel closer to the other fans, but in the international arena we're given the opportunity to bond as a country and, in the course of the competition, meet with others from across the globe. College campuses are particularly good places for national and international dialogue to happen, since students from all over the country and the world gather there.
The Brazilian team is known for its diversity, and for having players from different economic backgrounds.
Sports are a great way to bring people together since they represent a type of literal and figurative level playing field. Despite what's going on internationally, or the size, strength, and importance of the team's country, the players play under the constraints of the same rules, and all have in common a passion for the sport. To a certain extent smaller nations and poorer nations have the same opportunity to win as those that boast higher populations and stronger economies. When fans from different nations support the same team (perhaps during a game in the bracket against a common foe), international ties form.
College Students & the 2014 World Cup
One of the discussions that runs concurrent with the World Cup are the political, social, and economic climates of the participating nations. In Brazil, protests broke out before the start of the competition; some Brazilian citizens believe that the amount of money spent on the infrastructure around the Cup, i.e. the facilities and the systems that make it viable, would be better spent on the Brazilian people. This type of political conversation is an important way for college students to engage with the world. Debates that come out of analysis of the Cup help develop important critical thinking skills. It's important to hear the perspectives of international students in this type of discussion, since the prospective from abroad is unique.
For many students, college is the first time they're exposed to diversity of all kinds. It might also be the first time they're interacting with international students and foreign perspectives in their day to day life.The Washington Post covered a study on team diversitywhich posited that teams filled with players of variable backgrounds led to better performance in matches. Watching 2014 World Cup matches with friends is a good way to make observations according to that hypothesis.
The celebratory atmosphere that comes with international spectator sports is unique. Groups of students will find that it's a natural cause for a party. Given the patriotic nature of the occasion, people find particularly interesting ways of expressing themselves at World Cup gatherings. Win or lose, bonding around the game is a formidably enjoyable experience.
As we face global problems around natural resources, the environment, and disease, it behooves us to think of ourselves as domestic and global citizens. College gives students a unique opportunity to develop this perspective, and the World Cup is a great way to engage with those ideas while having an incredible time.
